Atom economy,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1-Vj6eh-mM&list=PL9IouNCPbCxUhxxFUbR4SNfwmaRB8mYX3&index=19&ab_channel=Freesciencelessons

What is atom economy

Its a measure of the amount of starting materials that end up as useful products.

By minimising production of unwanted products, we save money.

We also increase sustainability by not wasting resources.

We cannot have economy over 100%.

How do we work out atom economy

Relative formula mass of desired products (from eqution) / sum of relative formula masses of all reactants (from equation) x 100

Work out atom economy for glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide

C6H12O6 → 2c2H5Oh + 2CO2

The desired product is ethanol, so work out the Mr of ethanol, which is 46, but theres a big 2 infront of ethanol , meaning we are making 2 molecules of it, therefore it would be 2 × 46 = 92.

Then find out relative formula mass of glucose, which is 180.

(92 / 180 ) X 100 is 51.1%

Whats point of atom economy

Reactions produce unwanted side products, which is a waste of money

Chemists try find a use for these side products eg in other reactions, that way money is not wasted